Wellness Policy
Okaloosa Academy Charter School
Wellness Committee Members
Parents Michele Patterson and Yadire Sauri
Students Dylan Allen, Brannon Crenshaw, Brianna McCardell
School Food Service Lynn Hohenstein and Kay Stover
School Board Bill Eddins
Administrators Bill Eddins and Christol Jarrett
Physical Education James Reid
Health Education Lois Webb
Nutrition Education Goals
The curriculum includes courses in health, physical fitness, and team sports for students in grades 6 through 12. Content in these courses instructs students in the benefits of healthy eating habits and daily exercise. Specific topics address the following:
- a need for a variety of exercises to increase strength, flexibility, and endurance
- the importance of aerobic exercise and its effects on the health of the heart and circulatory system
- an understanding and application of designing a balanced diet to incorporate a variety of nutritional foods
- a discussion of health related issues associated with excessive stress and obesity.
These concepts are reflected in the school’s practice of making nutritionally balanced lunches prepared in the onsite kitchen available to all students and encouraging all students to participate in the lunch program. Additionally, all vending machines include healthier alternatives such as juice, water, granola to more typical snack foods like soda, chips, and candy.
The goal of Okaloosa Academy Charter School is to increase student awareness of the negative effects of poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle on one’s health. Through monitoring of students’ grades in the courses listed above and by tracking students’ vending machine purchases, the school will be able to determine students’ understanding and application of information about nutrition and making healthier dietary choices.
Physical Activity Goals
As part of the Team Sports class, students participate in activities such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, and badminton. Instruction in these sports includes an overview of the rules of play and the skills needed. Students practice these skills and are assessed according to their overall participation and improvement. Also, all students have a daily recess period of twenty-five minutes to engage in physical activity outside.
The goal of Okaloosa Academy Charter School is to increase students’ opportunities for physical activity within the school day and to encourage involvement in leisure activities that promote a healthier lifestyle.
Nutrition and Safety Standards for All Foods Served or Sold on School Campus
School lunches are prepared on site and include at least the following items:
- 3 oz. of meat or meat alternate
- two or more servings of vegetables or fruits to equal ¾ cup
- 10 servings per week of bread or bread alternate
- 8 fl. oz. of whole, unflavored low fat, or flavored milk
All school lunches are served as complete meals. In order to positively promote the lunch program, students are encouraged to eat a school lunch, and meals are designed to include a variety of menu items liked by students. Special dietary needs of students will be addressed per the written instructions of a qualified medical professional which includes a Licensed Physician or Licensed Nurse Practitioner.
The school lunch program complies with federal, state and local requirements. Reimbursable meals will not be less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act (42 U.S.C. 1779) and section 9(f)(1) and 17(a) of the Richard B Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(f)(1), 1766(a)0, as those regulations and guidance applied to schools.
All foods made available on campus comply with the state and local food safety and sanitation regulations. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans and guidelines are developed and implemented to prevent food-born illnesses. Likewise, access to the food service operations is limited to Food Service Staff and authorized personnel for the safety and security of the food and facility. Additionally, Food Service Staff are certified as food managers through the National Education Association Educational Foundation.
Students have access to vending machines up to an hour before lunch service begins and after school hours. Although items sold in the vending machine include typical snacks such as soda, chips, and candy, at least fifty percent of the items sold are comprised of healthier choices such as water, 100% fruit juice, granola, etc. that meet at least two of the following criteria:
- 300 or fewer calories
- six grams of fat or less
- one or more grams of fiber
- at least 10% of RDA of calcium, iron, Vitamin A or vitamin C.
Food items of minimal nutritional value are limited when served at school parties and celebrations or when sold during fundraisers.
Environment and Readiness
- Students have adequate opportunities to wash their hands before being served meals.
- Lunch periods are scheduled as near the middle of the school day as possible.
- Students are provided adequate time to eat .
- Dining areas are attractive and clean and have enough space for seating all students.
Other School-based Activities to Promote Wellness
We understand that our status as an alternative education program strongly indicates that a significant portion of the student body may engage in activities that are hazardous to their health in ways other than poor dietary choices and minimal exercise routines. In order to address these needs, the curriculum of Okaloosa Academy Charter School includes two very important programs. The first of these is an Outreach Prevention Service in partnership with Bridgeway Center that works with students in a classroom setting as well as in individual and group counseling sessions to educate them in substance abuse awareness, anger and stress management, adolescent health issues, and peer and family relationships. The program is designed to help students understand the benefits of making better choices for themselves leading to healthier and happier lifestyles. In conjunction with the Outreach Prevention Service, Okaloosa Academy Charter School also offers Aggressors, Victims, and Bystanders which equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable them to successfully resolve their conflicts without resorting to violence. This program enlightens students to patterns of conflict and helps them challenge habits of thought that support violence. Therefore, these two programs enhance those instructional services and practices on the campus that more directly address diet and exercise to better educate our students about behaviors that will promote personal wellness.
Plan for Evaluation and Revision of the Wellness Policy
| Responsible Person | Action |
| Food Service Staff | Review monthly and track lunch program participation |
| Vending Machine VenderOffice Manager | Review and track trends in vending purchases |
| Discipline Officer | Ensure that vending machines are open only at approved times |
| Teachers | Assess student participation and knowledge within previously identified courses to provide quarterly feedback through students’ grades |
| Administrator | Collect information from Food Service Staff, Office Manager, and teachers to determine the effectiveness of the Wellness Policy and the need for any revisions |
| Administrator | Convene the Wellness Committee at least semi-annually to address areas of continued concern and forward reports to the school board |